Fusil ametrallador Oviedo

FAO
7.92mm FAO
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	Spain
Service history
Used by	Spain Egypt
Wars	Ifni War
Production history
Designed	1951
Produced	1951-1958
No. built	10,508
Specifications
Mass	9.10 kg (20.06 lb)
Length	1,180 mm (46.5 in)
Cartridge	7.92×57mm Mauser 7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Rate of fire	600-650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	850 m/s (2,789 ft/s)
Effective firing range	1,000 m (1,100 yd)
Feed system	20-round detachable box magazine

The Fusil ametrallador Oviedo is a Spanish copy of the ZB vz. 26 and ZB vz. 30 Czechoslovak light machine guns. ^[1]

History

In 1943, Francoist Spain ordered 7.92×57mm Mauser ZB vz. 30 machine guns from the German-occupied Zbrojovka Brno but received only 100 guns. It was decided to produce a copy in Oviedo. The first prototype was built in 1951 and production began. 10.508 were produced until 1958 and Egypt received 700 of them. ^[2] Some were modified in 1959 to use a 7.62×51mm NATO 50-round belt loaded in a drum. ^[3] This modified variant, sometimes used on a tripod, was known as the FAO Model 59. ^[1]

Service

The FAO was nicknamed Pepito ^[2] and saw service during the Ifni War against the Moroccan Army of Liberation. It was replaced by the MG 42/59 (MG1). ^[4]

References

1. Smith 1969, p. 547.
2. "Fusil Ametrallador Oviedo (FAO): otro capítulo más de nuestra gloriosa historia armera". arma.es (in Spanish). 24 March 2017.
3. Smith 1969, p. 548.
4. Canales Torres, Carlos; del Rey Vicente, Miguel (2010). Breve historia de la Guerra de Ifni-Sáhara (in Spanish). Nowtilus. p. 241. ISBN   9788497639712.

• Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company. ISBN   978-0-8117-1566-9.

External links

• Image of a 7.62mm FAO 59